Tunisian coach Maher Kanzari returned to the Espérance dugout in March, taking the reins once more after previous stints with the club as an assistant and then head coach. The 52-year-old boasts a rich CV, having coached in his home country as well as a range of clubs in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. He led Tunisia at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup™ in Korea Republic and has also had stints at the helm of his nation’s U-20 and U-23 teams. Kanzari also briefly helmed the senior national team in two matches in 2018 – further evidence of his experience across all levels.
He returned to the club this March at a time of need, when Espérance were suffering from a downturn in form. Sitting neck-and-neck with US Monastir at the top of the table just five matchdays from the finish, Espérance were at risk of surrendering their league crown. The new boss faced a monumental task: steady the ship, fast.
And steady it he did. Espérance went unbeaten in those final five matches, with four wins and a final-day draw after the title was clinched, securing a well-deserved triumph. Despite the challenges, it was a stellar season for Espérance in terms of numbers. They topped the league with 19 wins, nine draws, and just two defeats. They also boasted the strongest attack, with 57 goals – all thanks to Kanzari, whose touch restored the team’s shine.
Winning the league title was significant, of course, but Espérance’s real achievement was to then take the Tunisian Cup, thus completing the domestic double for the first time since 2011 and, what’s more, an unprecedented Tunisian treble of league, Cup and Super Cup. They are now in prime position to write a new chapter of success at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.
Speaking to FIFA, Kanzari shared his excitement for the global showdown and his pride in this season’s achievements.
Maher Kanzari: We’re thrilled to be part of this historic football event, the first of its kind in the game’s history. It’s a fantastic initiative by FIFA. There’s no doubt the tournament will bring tremendous benefits to all the participating clubs and inject fresh energy into football across the countries involved. We expect it to serve as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. The very concept of this tournament is packed with positive ideas and ambitions that we hope will benefit everyone. So, we’re excited and fully ready to make the most of this highly anticipated event.
This tournament will be like a miniature World Cup, but for clubs rather than national teams. The difference will be in the crowds. Club fans are often more enthusiastic and intense than fans of national teams. We’re hoping for packed stadiums and an electric vibe, just as we’d expect from any global tournament.
Absolutely but we have also faced big clubs before, such as Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. [Espérance] have a long history of big matches against big names – and we are a prestigious club, too. There’s no doubt we’ll gain valuable experience from this tournament. We’ll be properly prepared to take to the pitch focused and determined.
As I said, this tournament is a preview of the upcoming World Cup for national teams. I’m sure that many of the players in Espérance’s current lineup will be back next year to represent their national teams, and God willing, this experience will serve them well.
We’ll set our objectives once we’re there and we take the pitch. We’ll give it our all in every match, just as every team will. We may make it out of the group stage, and we may not. But I expect us to play our matches with passion and enthusiasm. The most important thing is that we honour the shirt – both Espérance’s colours and the name of Tunisia itself.
I’m with him. As I’ve said, there’s no fear here. These are football matches at the highest level. Every player is hungry to play in a tournament like the Club World Cup. That’s why we’re not afraid of anything. We’re a big team, and they’re big teams too. True, they may look better on paper, but this is football – anything can happen. Espérance don’t cower before anyone. We bring our full might into every match. We’re determined to deliver a great performance that is worthy of our reputation, just like always.
I think the difference is massive. Competing as a player would’ve given me an opportunity to reach new heights, to become a star at big clubs. I don’t think the experience of the tournament is at all the same for a player as for a coach; each role has its own challenges and demands.
Why not? This is football, and the landscape is constantly shifting. We saw plenty of surprises even at the last World Cup, like Morocco’s deep run. And we’ve seen teams like Mazembe and Raja reach the final of [FIFA tournaments]. That’s the nature of football: Every team has a chance to advance, succeed, win and achieve its dreams. The pitch is open to everyone.
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